Have you ever felt uneasy about seeking treatment for tooth decay? When you ignore the presence of cavities, you risk infection and other complications such as tooth loss. By attending regular visits to your dentist, you fight decay with both preventative methods and timely treatment of existing conditions. Routine cleanings remove cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth and examinations allow us to detect, remove, and restore decayed tissues. Your Ankeny, IA dentist’s office can place a dental filling that closely imitates the appearance of your natural enamel. This conservative solution restores the beauty of your smile while preserving the healthy portion of your tooth from continued infection. When needed, we can also place dental crowns that address more extensive damage. Remember to visit us regularly so we can fight tooth decay together!
How Dental Restorations Treat Tooth Decay
Decay is the result of bacteria that cause harm to the outer enamel structure of your healthy tooth. As bacteria consume and digest sugars in the food and beverages left on your teeth, they produce acids that erode the outer layers and break them down. Neglecting a healthy oral hygiene routine promotes the presence of these bacteria, which is why daily brushing and flossing is so important, but cavities can still occur in anyone’s mouth. This is why routine examination by your dentist is vital in detecting their presence early before they lead to more severe damage. The type of restoration we recommend will depend on the shape and size of the cavity.
When a dental filling is appropriate, we can offer relief from tooth decay in a single visit. Fillings provide a lifelike restoration that can match the look of your natural structure. We will simply numb the surrounding area and remove decay to prepare the surface for application. After we place the filling material, you will be protected from worsening infection. This means we preserve the remaining healthy material without performing extensive alterations to your surrounding tooth.
Treating Cavities With Dental Crowns
Sometimes tooth decay causes harm that is beyond the scope of care with a dental filling. When this happens, we may determine that a dental crown can protect your tooth from further decay and structural degradation. Crowns cover the entire surface of the tooth above your gumline and can provide much more support to the pressures of daily chewing and biting. This returns function and protects against future physical breaks or cracks from weakened enamel. Our office will seek the most conservative solution possible when treating your cavity, so this means we will only recommend a crown when the tooth is sufficiently damaged beyond the reparative capability of a filling.
Speak With Your Ankeny, IA Dentist About Treating Tooth Decay With A Dental Filling
We can help you preserve the health of your smile through timely cavity treatment. If you would like to find out more about this service or have questions about other oral health issues, please call our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office at (515) 965-0230 to schedule a visit.
